Sun Hongbin of Sunac, from jailbird to billionaire

Sun Hongbin bills himself as a man who has successfully waded through the sometimes muddy waters of the mainland business world.

Sun, the chairman and chief executive of Sunac China Holdings, a Tianjin-based property developer, revels in hard work, and believes that he was born to do business.

"I feel that work is an enjoyable part of my life," Sun said. "Recreational activities and hobbies such as travelling are of no interest to me.

Sun, now 50, is hailed as a national hero in corporate China, and his comebacks from adversity have inspired thousands of mainland entrepreneurs.

He became a billionaire at the end of last year after the company's Hong Kong-traded shares more than trebled in price, as investors bought into the idea of a sustained recovery in Chinese property prices.

However, that success was not achieved without some tough times.